Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club
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 Riverside Park Winter Recreation Map | 1.91 MB |
Welcome to the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club at Riverside Park in St. Cloud, MN.
Geographic Coordinates: 45.545577, -94.143235 (Lat./Long.) /
UTM Coordinates: x:410754.882812, y:5044195.556640
Date web page last updated:November 15, 2020 at 10:00 p.m.
Find us also on FACEBOOK. Please find and LIKE/Share the page at https://www.facebook.com/CentralMinnesotaYouthSkiClub
Watch for pictures and event updates on this page as well!
2021 Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Meeting Schedule and Location:
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club 2021 season will be held eight Sundays from January 3, 2021 to February 28, 2021 based outside of the Riverside Park shelter from 1:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (except on Sunday, January 24, 2021 for the tentatively planned 14th Annual Sons of Norway Barnaløpet, a youth fun cross country ski "race" at Riverside Park that we attend that weekend instead).
We meet at 1:45 p.m. on Sundays outside the Riverside Park shelter to be ready to ski at 2 p.m. The Riverside Park shelter parking lot is located at 1725 Kilian Blvd. SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304, which is located on the SE side of St. Cloud, across the river from St. Cloud State University.
Due to COVID 19 Pandemic safety measures, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club will not be allowed to utilize the Riverside Park warming shelter before, during or after club sessions, so parents and guardians are advised to dress your youth skiers and yourselfs for skiing ahead of time or at Riverside Park shelter parking lot within your own vehicles. Likewise, no snack breaks will be allowed in the middle of the club sessions this year, so it is likely this years sessions will look different than prior years and sessions will be shortened based on level, likely no longer than an hour and a half total.
Due to COVID 19 Pandemic considerations, the Minnesota Youth Ski Club has capped the number of youth skiers for each club in 2021 at a max of 60 youth skier participants. For reference, we had 90 youth skiers in 2020, os if you haven't registered your youth skier(s) yet, it is advised you do so ASAP. Once registration gets close to 60 registered you skiers, a waiting list will be created.
Sunday, January 3, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, January 10, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, January 17, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, January 24, 2021 (The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club does not meet this week, but instead attends the tentatively scheduled 14th Annual Sons of Norway Barnaløpet. 11:30 a.m. on site registration, staggered starts for youth "races") (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, January 31, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, February 7, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, February 14, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, February 21, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Sunday, February 28, 2021 (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Optional MyXC Festival at Theodore Wirth Park will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021. (Weather: ? degrees F with ? mph winds making it feel like ? degrees F)
Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club registration for 2021 can be found at https://www.mysl.org/registration
Registration costs $45 per youth skier, which will be charged at checkout.
Registration FAQ's:
1. Skill levels can be edited (anytime, even after registration) in step #1 "Household Information" of the Club Registration process. Leaders can also edit this on their rosters for any skier.
2. Step #2 "Club Membership" is required. This often confuses new members because they are thinking "lesson" not "club membership"
Coaches and Assistant Coaches needed for Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club:
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club 2021 season is almost here! We hope to have another successful year with the help of High School student assistant coaches and others! The youth skiers really look up to them! Please contact Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator, at stcloud@mysl.org if you know someone that would like to be an assistant coach this season. Adults are specifically encourage to volunteer as coaches as well. Thank you for helping our youth skiers learn how to cross country ski and have fun at the same time!
Current 2021 Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club participants separated by cross country ski levels:
37 registered Youth Skiers as of November 15, 2021:
Level 1, ages 4-5: 8
Level 2, ages 6-8: 12
Level 3, ages 7-10: 5
Level 3*, ages 11-14 (beginner): 2
Level 4, ages 8-14: 6
Level 5, ages 9-14: 3
Level 6, ages 11-14: 1
Level Group Name Age Range Criteria
1 First Steppers 4 - 5 Just starting to ski (classic)
2 Climbers 6 - 8 Entry level, can dress and put on skis (classic)
3 Gliders 7 - 10 Walks on skis, ready to learn the rhythm (classic)
3 Gliders* 11 - 14 Beginning skiers who are 11 years old and older.
4 Striders 8 - 14 Comfortable on skis, up and down hills, has mastered basics (classic)
5 Skaters 9 - 14 Learning to skate (skate)
6 Nordics 11 - 14 Advanced skills, longer skiing, and short races (skate)
Junior Coach Hero 12 - 18 Best scooter tag players - help teach younger skiers skills
Typical ski club session:
We're here to cross county (nordic) ski and have fun! We ski and play games on the snow. This is a very friendly, family oriented program focused on children ages 4 to 14 years old that is built around kids having fun while learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers. We divide into seven groups based on age, comfort level, and skill level. Younger groups ski near the trail head and take advantage of small, snow-covered inclines to get used to being on skis. Older kids venture off about the park with a coach. Coaches have curriculum loaded with ideas and strategies for teaching young skiers.
Youth are encouraged to provide their own cross country ski equipment. If you are having a difficult time finding ski equipment, please contact Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator, at stcloud@mysl.org to see what additional options may be available. Again this upcoming 2021 ski season, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club will have traditional classic cross country ski sets available for rent at a cost of $35 and skate skis available for rent at a cost of $80. This is the direct result of the ski binding donations that were received previously, which provided the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club currently with 30 set of skis. Likewise, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club was awarded a $1,000 grant in 2017-2018 from the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) Young Skier Development Program. When registering youth for the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, there is an option to add a ski rental before you pay your membership dues. Arrangements must be made with Nicholas Snavely to ensure ski rentals are still available, as well as ensure the proper ski set size is available for the child. Visit https://mysl.org/sites/default/files/2020MyXC_sizingchart.pdf to determine the ski set your child needs.
If you have a 4- to 6-year-old child, one parent will be required to assist that child during their class. Older skiers also require a parent/guardian present while attending. Just to be clear, don’t plan on dropping your child off and picking them up after each session, since parents/guardians are expected to participate in some fashion, such as assisting with coaching. No experience is necessary, as there are activity plan booklets for each level available for review before each session. Once again, I stress that this is a very friendly, family oriented program that is built around the kids having fun while also learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers.
Families that rented MYSL ski rentals during 2020 or years prior should contact Nicholas Snavely at stcloud@mysl.org or 763-232-4921 to make arrangements return ski rentals and bibs if they were not returned..
Families that took photographs of Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club skiers are encouraged to share them with the club be emailing them to stcloud@mysl.org and posting them on the club's FACEBOOK page. Please find and LIKE/Share the page at https://www.facebook.com/CentralMinnesotaYouthSkiClub
MYSL Youth Development Chart
MYSL has been working with CXC to refine its development chart for youth skiing. This chart outlines program options for MYSL and affiliated Skiwerx clubs in our region. It outlines researched best practices for developing healthy, happy and athletic kids.
It's recommended by Long Term Athlete Development research, that all children participate in sports through their high school years to ensure they have the skills and confidence to remain active and healthy throughout their lives. A critical component to success as a high school athlete, is thoughtful exposure to a variety of sports and skills as a younger child.
Take a look and don't hesitate to contact Nicholas Snavely at stcloud@mysl.org or 763-232-4921 with questions.
MYSL is a Volunteer Organization and We Need You! Really.
Our largest volunteer need is coaches. MYSL has a unique day-by-day curriculum to make it easy for anyone (who can walk on skis) to be a great coach. MYSL also holds coaches training events in early December.
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Virtual Coach Training - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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Northern Minnesota Coach Training - Saturday, December 5, Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Mt. Itasca (Grand Rapids)
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Metro Coach Training - Sunday, December 6, 2020 at Elm Creek Park Reserve Winter Recreation Area. Short sessions throughout the day.
We love Junior Coaches as well. Past MYSL graduates and high school racers are perfect coaches for younger skiers.
If you have any questions about the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, please contact:
Nicholas Snavely
Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator
763-232-4921
stcloud@mysl.org
Beyond just joining the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, consider joining the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota!
During the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota meeting held on October of 2017, their members voted to approve a measure to help boost their membership, while offering parents who have their kids enrolled in the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club the opportunity to join the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota at the $20 family rate with the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota, then turning around and donating their $20 family membership funds to the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club. Thereby, the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota will not be gaining any funds, but would hopefully gain some new members.
Some of the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota volunteers make snow at Riverside Park early in the season and groom snow throughout the season. Without their efforts, we would not have had enough snow during many of the past seasons to cross country ski.
The member volunteers of the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota have been the reason for the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club being able to cross country ski at Riverside Park in past winters due to their excellent ability to make snow at Riverside Park. Likewise, the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota has an agreement with the City of Saint Cloud to provide the water used to make snow. Snow making and grooming equipment has been purchased by the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota, which is operated by a dedicated crew of volunteers who maintain the cross country ski trails at Riverside Park and the Saint Cloud Reformatory property. During past winters, they have made snow at Riverside Park, which not only made the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club lessons and games possible early on, but also provided a location for local high schools to practice and race, as well as location for the local community to cross country ski and enjoy the sledding hill. Special events, such as the upcoming tentatively scheduled 14th Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet, which will be held at Riverside Park on Sunday, January 24, 2021 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. is made possible due to the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota’s snow making and grooming volunteer efforts.
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club thanks the volunteer members of Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota for all that they do to make cross country skiing a possibility in the Saint Cloud area!
Consider becoming a member of Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota to help support these efforts and make some great friends along the way. Visit http://www.nordicskiclubcentralmn.org/
Nordic Ski Club of Central MN webpage:
http://nordicskiclubcentralmn.org/
Nordic Ski Club of Central MN Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CentralMNNordicSkiClub/